The next morning came quietly. Sunlight filtered through Elena's curtains, painting golden lines across her bed. She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts replaying the night before.
Alexander's voice, his pain, the way his eyes softened when he spoke about Sophia — it all lingered in her heart.
She hadn't meant to touch his past, but now that she had, she couldn't forget it. The man everyone saw as cold and untouchable was carrying a wound that hadn't healed.
A soft knock broke her thoughts.
"Mrs. Knight?" Daniel's voice came from outside the door.
Elena quickly got out of bed and opened it. Daniel stood there, holding a folder and a polite smile.
"Good morning, ma'am. Mr. Knight asked me to brief you on your upcoming public schedule."
She blinked. "Public schedule?"
"Yes," Daniel replied. "You'll need to appear with Mr. Knight at two charity events and a business dinner this week. The media has already begun following your story. They're calling you the mysterious Mrs. Knight."
Elena's eyes widened. "What?"
Daniel smiled faintly. "You've become the talk of the town overnight. People want to know who you are — where you came from, how you met him, everything."
Her stomach twisted slightly. She wasn't ready for that kind of attention. "I don't even know what to say to them."
"That's why I'm here," Daniel said gently. "We'll go through everything together. You'll have a short profile, background answers, and basic guidelines for interviews. It's important that your story matches Mr. Knight's version."
Elena nodded slowly. "So this is part of playing the role?"
Daniel's expression softened. "Yes, ma'am. You're not just a wife in private. You're a symbol in public. Mr. Knight's image depends on it."
She sighed. "I understand."
He placed the folder on her desk. "Your first event is tomorrow evening. Mrs. Carter will help you prepare."
After he left, Elena opened the folder. Inside were printed details — outfits, event schedules, even sample answers to possible media questions. Everything was perfectly planned. Every move she made had already been decided.
She closed the folder and looked out the window. The mansion's garden looked peaceful from above, but she couldn't shake the feeling that her freedom was slowly slipping away.
---
That evening, she found Alexander in his study. He was behind his desk, going through a stack of documents, his sleeves rolled up. The sight of him — calm, focused, completely in control — made something stir in her chest.
"Daniel said we'll be attending a charity event tomorrow," she said softly.
Alexander looked up briefly. "Yes. It's an annual foundation dinner. My parents started it before they retired."
She nodded. "I read the notes Daniel gave me. I'll do my best to make it look real."
He set his pen down and leaned back slightly, studying her. "You've already done better than I expected."
Her eyes met his. "That doesn't sound like a compliment."
A faint smirk touched his lips. "It is, in my own way."
She couldn't help but smile a little. "You're difficult to read, you know that?"
"I hear that a lot."
For a moment, they just looked at each other — no coldness, no distance, just quiet understanding. Then she said, "You should play your part too, Mr. Knight. You don't smile much for a married man."
That earned her a soft chuckle. "Noted, Mrs. Knight."
Her heart skipped at the way he said it — not as a title, but as something almost real.
---
The next evening, the mansion buzzed with quiet activity. Makeup artists, stylists, and staff moved quickly around her room. Elena stood in front of the mirror as they worked. The gown chosen for her shimmered in silver and white, hugging her figure elegantly. When they finished, she barely recognized herself.
Mrs. Carter smiled proudly. "You look beautiful, dear. He won't be able to look away."
Elena laughed nervously. "I doubt that."
Downstairs, Alexander waited in a dark suit that fit him perfectly. When she entered the room, his gaze lifted — and for a brief moment, his usual composure faltered.
"You clean up well," he said quietly.
"So do you," she replied.
The drive to the event was silent but not uncomfortable. When they arrived, flashes from cameras greeted them. Reporters shouted questions.
"Mr. Knight, who is your wife?"
"Mrs. Knight, how did you two meet?"
"Is it true this was a sudden marriage?"
Alexander's hand found hers — firm, steady — as they stepped onto the red carpet. "Just smile," he whispered. "I'll handle the rest."
And he did. Every gesture, every glance, was perfectly timed. To the public, they looked like the ideal couple — the powerful businessman and his graceful wife. Elena smiled for the cameras, but inside, she felt the weight of every false word.
During the dinner, she kept up her role, speaking politely to guests, answering questions as Daniel had trained her. Yet, now and then, she caught Alexander watching her. Not the cold, assessing stare she was used to — but something softer.
When the evening ended and they returned home, she kicked off her heels with a sigh. "That was exhausting."
Alexander poured himself a drink. "You handled it well. The media will have nothing to complain about."
She smiled faintly. "For someone who doesn't like crowds, I think I did fine."
"You did more than fine," he said, his voice lower now. "You looked… beautiful."
The words caught her off guard. She turned toward him, unsure what to say.
For a moment, they just stood there — silence thick with something unspoken. Then he cleared his throat, setting his glass down. "You should rest. There's another event next week."
"Of course," she said softly.
As she walked upstairs, her heart beat faster than before. She knew this marriage was only business, only a deal — yet every time he looked at her that way, the line between real and pretend grew thinner.
And in the quiet of her r
oom, Elena whispered to herself, "Don't fall for him."
But deep down, she already knew — it was too late.
That wasn't the interesting part,let see what happened in the next chapter